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Rome to host first Formula E Championship

Rome, the historic capital of Italy, is the first European city to be announced as a host venue of the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship in 2014.

After a year of development and public demonstrations in 2013, the Formula E electric single-seaters will compete exclusively in urban environments the following year, taking in the centers of 10 major cities. In August, Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, was the first venue to be announced.

Alejandro Agag, the Spanish CEO of series promoter Formula E Holdings, intends to offer race promoters 20 cars, operated by 10 franchised teams. Formula E is being promoted as an 'open' championship, and Agag has been encouraging brand-name racecar manufacturers to build cars.

In August, however, Agag purchased the French 'Formulec' project that had been initiated in 2008 by Eric Barbaroux, Pierre Gosselin and Frédéric Vasseur. Last month, he ordered 42 cars from Vasseur's newly formed Spark Racing Technology company. McLaren Electronic Systems has won the contract to design and produce the all-electric, lithium-battery powertrains.

The 42 Spark chassis will be sufficient to supply four to each of the registered teams, one for the FIA crash-test procedure, and one for track-testing. Formula 1 driver Lucas di Grassi has been hired to lead the test and development work.

Should any team choose to run another chassis make in the future, its Spark cars will return to the promoter's pool.

Agag said of the prestige Italian fixture: “We are honored to have Rome on board as the first European city to host Formula E, since Italy is renowned for its motorsports passion, expertise and technical innovation. Clean urban mobility and sustainability are a priority for our championship, and Formula E wants to become a showcase for these advances through an entertaining and all-inclusive spectacle.”

FIA president Jean Todt added, “The contrast between this innovative motorsport series and the rich, ancient history of Rome is one I am sure the public and the media will be intrigued and enriched by.”